VTI vs XLII

VTI vs XLII

Which is better, VTI or XLII?

VTI has been ahead.

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window.

Lower Fees: VTIHigher Returns: VTI

MarketXLS is not an investment adviser. This comparison is generated automatically from market data and is for information only. A Best mark means the better reading on that one measure, not a recommendation to buy.

Side-by-Side Comparison

MetricVTIXLII
Expense Ratio0.03%Best0.35%
AUM$689.2B$15M
Dividend Yield1.06%13.64%
Holdings3,5248
YTD Return+13.02%Best+5.16%
1Y Return+16.63%Best+10.09%
3Y Return (annualized)+21.97%-
5Y Return (annualized)+11.99%-
Volatility (annualized)11.8%Best11.9%
Max Drawdown-8.9%Best-10.1%
$10,000 over 1.2 years$12,227Best$11,303
Fund FamilyVanguard (US)State Street Investment Management
CategoryEquityEquity
StyleLarge Cap BlendLarge Cap Blend
InceptionMay 24, 2001Jul 29, 2025

Not shown on this pair: Top 10 Weight.

Volatility and max drawdown, and the $10,000 over 1.2 years row, are measured over the window both funds cover: Jul 30, 2025 to Oct 14, 2026 (1.2 years).

VTI vs XLII growth

Month-end closes. Both lines start at 0% in the first month shown, so the gap between them is the difference in growth across that window. The full view covers the 1.2 years both funds cover.

VTI vs XLII Performance

Vanguard Morningstar Total Stock Market ETF (VTI) is an ETF from Vanguard (US) and State Street Industrial Select Sector SPDR Premium Income ETF (XLII) is an ETF from State Street Investment Management. Over the past year VTI returned +16.63% while XLII returned +10.09%. Year to date, VTI is up 13.02% versus a gain of 5.16% for XLII.

Past performance does not guarantee future results.

Risk: Volatility and Drawdowns

XLII has been the more volatile fund, with annualized monthly volatility of 11.9% compared with 11.8% for VTI. Lower volatility generally means a smoother ride, though it often comes with lower long-run returns.

The deepest peak-to-trough decline in our data was -8.9% for VTI and -10.1% for XLII. Drawdown depth is what each fund did in the worst stretch of the window measured above.

The two funds' monthly returns correlate at 0.60. They move together some of the time, and apart the rest.

Fees and Cost Over Time

VTI charges 0.03% per year while XLII charges 0.35%. On a $10,000 position that is $3 vs $35 annually, a gap of $32 per year that compounds over a long holding period. On income, VTI currently yields 1.06% against 13.64% for XLII.

Holdings Overlap

We hold position weights for 3,441 holdings in VTI and 2 in XLII, totalling 98.1% and 100.1% of the two funds. The two books name no position in common, so there is no overlap percentage to show.

0 positions in common, counted across the 3,441 positions we hold weights for in VTI and 2 in XLII, against full books of 3,524 and 8.

You are not choosing between two funds in isolation.

Whichever of VTI and XLII you pick has to sit alongside everything else you own. Add the rest and see what the combination actually holds.

VTIXLII

Free for up to 10 holdings. No account needed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which is cheaper, VTI or XLII?

VTI has an expense ratio of 0.03% while XLII charges 0.35%. VTI is the cheaper option, by $32 a year on a $10,000 investment.

Which performed better, VTI or XLII?

Over the past year VTI returned +16.63% vs +10.09% for XLII, so VTI leads on 1-year performance. Over the longest common window we track (1 years), VTI annualized +18.24% vs +10.75% for XLII. Past performance does not guarantee future results. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which is riskier, VTI or XLII?

XLII has been the more volatile fund at 11.9% annualized versus 11.8% for VTI. Worst drawdown: VTI -8.9% vs XLII -10.1%.

Should I hold both VTI and XLII?

VTI and XLII have a monthly-return correlation of 0.60, so their returns are far enough apart for the mix to behave differently from either one alone. This is information, not a recommendation.

Which pays a higher dividend, VTI or XLII?

VTI yields 1.06% while XLII yields 13.64%, so XLII currently pays the higher dividend yield.

Is XLII better than VTI?

VTI has a lower expense ratio. VTI led over 1Y and the full window. Which one suits a particular account depends on what it is for. This is information, not a recommendation.